Host Kara Frair flips the script on youth sports training, bringing you endless ideas for developing positive mentality, teaching life skills and curating more effective training methods. Let's help our youth athletes by teaching more than skills!
In this episode, we break down the difference between teaching mindset concepts and actually training them—something most coaches overlook. Many youth coaches define ideas like confidence, focus, resilience, and growth mindset…but stop short of showing athletes how to build these skills through real, repeatable practice.
You’ll learn practical strategies for helping young athletes develop mental tools the same way they train physical skills. We’ll cover:
• How to increase awareness of thoughts using simple, actionable cues
• A coach-friendly way to teach fixed vs. growth mindset
• Fun and engaging activities that improve focus in real time
• How to help athletes handle pressure using routines and controlled challenges
• Ways to integrate breathwork and emotional regulation directly into practice
If you’re a coach or parent who wants your athletes to develop confidence, resilience, and stronger mental habits, this episode gives you clear examples you can start using today.
MST: Your athletes are a reflection of YOU.
FREE resources (https://morethanskill.com/resources-1)
12 Mental Strategy Activities for Youth Athletes (https://morethanskill.com/resources-1/ols/products/12-mental-strategy-activities-for-youth-athletes-e-book)
Growth Mindset Activity Workbook (https://morethanskill.com/resources-1/ols/products/growth-mindset-activity-workbook)
1 Oct 2025
Mindset Wins: Lessons for Young Athletes from Pro Hockey GM Toni Will
How do you build the mental toughness to lead—and to help athletes thrive—when the stakes are high? Toni Will, General Manager of a men’s professional hockey team and the first woman in her league to hold that role, joins Kara to share the mindset principles that determine success on and off the ice.
In this conversation, Toni talks about:
Breaking barriers as a woman in pro sports (12:24)
Her Six Leadership Pillars for athletes, parents, and coaches (26:52)
Building confidence and resilience in young players (3:28)
Living alcohol-free for greater clarity and energy (33:38)
Turning life’s “detours” into growth opportunities (36:51)
Advice for parents and coaches (44:40)
Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, you’ll leave inspired to train the mind like a pro and create a winning culture in sports and life.
Connect with Toni:
toniwill.com (toniwill.com)
Kalamazoo Wings (https://kwings.com)
Books mentioned on today's episode:
10x is Better Than 2x (https://10xeasierbook.com)
The Anxious Generation (https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book)
Loving What Is (https://thework.com/loving-what-is-revised-edition/)
11 Sept 2025
The Car Ride Home: How Parents Can Support Their Athlete’s Mindset
Parents, what you say after practice or a game can shape your young athlete’s mindset more than you think. In this short episode, Kara shares science-backed tips for parents of youth athletes on how to handle the car ride home and those crucial moments after practice.
Whether your child is a competitive cheerleader, plays soccer, basketball, footballl, or any youth sport, this episode shows you how to:
Support your athlete’s mental health and confidence
Use expert strategies from sports psychology research
Build trust and improve parent-athlete communication
Grab Kara’s free download, “10 Questions to Ask Your Athlete After Practice, (10 Questions To Ask Your Athlete Switch report Audience: More Than Skill Tags: Add tags to contacts who sign up Published: Mon, Jun 23, 2025 12:57 pm URL: )” for conversation starters that create connection without adding pressure.
Mental Strategy Tidbit: Mistakes=Data Reframe
48-hour rule (https://www.nj.com/advice/2025/09/dear-annie-parents-who-coach-youth-sports-might-want-to-consider-the-48-hour-rule.html?utm_source=www.buyingsandlot.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=us-sports-camps-president-justin-hoeveler-on-state-of-youth-sports&_bhlid=c90f79f3037a6d2e7a21cb3cb5ec3a684b79133f)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
529
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
38
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
27
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